rootbear75 Posted May 29, 2007 Report Posted May 29, 2007 A Michigan man has been fined $400 and must work 40 hours of community service for using a local café’s Wi-Fi connection from his parked car to check his e-mail and surf the Web. He got off easy, according to the local TV station that reported the case: under Michigan computer access law, using a Wi-Fi connection without authorization is a felony, punishable by as much a $10,000 fine and five years in prison. But the story raises more questions than it answers, including whether the café’s Wi-Fi connection was a fee-based service, which would imply authorization was required, or a free service that, without any security restrictions, could be accessed by anyone within range, including someone outside the restaurant. The story also doesn’t say whether the defendant, Sam Peterson II, of Sparta, Ill., was convicted of the crime or pled to the charge. Peterson routinely drove to Sparta’s Re-Union Street Caf, to check his e-mail but never went into the coffee shop. His regular routine drew the attention of Sparta Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, who asked Peterson what he was doing. Peterson told him. After checking the Michigan statutes, the chief swore out a complaint of fraudulent computer access. Source: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/0523...-free-wifi.htmlvia fark.com
MikeTheNose Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 He should of bought coffee, it'd have been cheaper.
»Ceiu Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 He probably didn't realize he was doing anything wrong. It'd be one thing if he was byp!@#$%^&*ing their authentication to get it for free (and therefore, stealing), but I'm willing to bet he just happened to notice that there was an unsecured network there probably provided by the coffee shop and !@#$%^&*umed he would be in the clear.
Gravitron Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 Uh...that still sounds like he knew he's doing something wrong. Also...THIS IS SPARTA
Dav Posted May 31, 2007 Report Posted May 31, 2007 this seems to be happening everywhere atm. someone in england was arrested for using someone else's unsecured wifi.
Choose Profile Posted June 2, 2007 Report Posted June 2, 2007 He should of bought coffee, it'd have been cheaper. Not if it was starbucks
Dav Posted June 2, 2007 Report Posted June 2, 2007 And if it was starbucks it wouldnt be wi-fi, it would be the most trendy free starbucks wi-fi there is to enjoy whilst drinking your crap coffee out of a trendy starbucks cup. I know this is offtopic but my reason for hating starbucks is ive got coffee from them 3 times, 1st tasted disgusting. Second was so hot I couldn't drink it for about 30 mins and the third was a combination of the two. Is that normal or is it just me?
rootbear75 Posted June 2, 2007 Author Report Posted June 2, 2007 I know this is offtopic but my reason for hating starbucks is ive got coffee from them 3 times, 1st tasted disgusting. Second was so hot I couldn't drink it for about 30 mins and the third was a combination of the two. Is that normal or is it just me?just you i usually get hot chocolate form them and they almost always taste fine
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